Disease severity scoring After selleckchem the first DSS cycle the DAI score was significantly lower in groups 2B (P=0.007), 2BP (P=0.002) and B (P=0.005) than in group C (Fig. 1). Groups supplemented with blueberry husks continued to have lower DAI than the C group through the different cycles. The P group only reached significant difference in the 3rd cycle (P=0.05). The signs of colitis gradually disappeared during the first periods with pure water, but DAI gradually increased over time and did not revert between the cycles of DSS administration (Fig. 1). At the 11th cycle, a significantly lower DAI was found compared with group C for groups 2B (P=0.015), 2BP (P=0.021), B (P=0.043) and BP (P=0.050) (Fig. 1).

All animals exhibited body weight loss and most of them showed more or less rectal bleeding and loose stool, and DAI increased significantly between the first and eleventh cycle of DSS administration for all groups (P<0.01). The mortality rate was 0%. Haptoglobin The haptoglobin level in blood at base line was significantly lower in groups B (P=0.043), 2B (P=0.001) and 2BP (P<0.001) compared with that of group C (Fig. 2). Over the experimental period there is a general pattern that group P has higher haptoglobin values than group C, while all groups supplemented with blueberry husks have lower values (groups 2B, 2BP, B and BP; Fig. 2). A significant increase in haptoglobin levels from the base line to the end of the water period of cycle 10 was shown in all groups: C group (P=0.01), P group (P<0.001), 2B group (P<0.001), 2BP group (P<0.001), B group (P=0.002), BP group (P=0.

043) (Fig. 2). Histological and macroscopic alterations of colon Macroscopic examination of colon from each animal revealed visible thickening of the colon walls in all groups. Invaginations as a cause of polyps and dilated descending colon were occasionally seen in animals of groups C, B and BP. No polyps were found in the groups 2B and 2BP. Examination in the microscope shows that group C had colonic inflammation, mostly confined to the mucosa and submucosa, with loss of surface epithelium, inflammatory cell infiltrations, loss of goblet cells, crypt distortion and abscesses, mucosal ulceration and erosion, and accompanying submucosal edema (Fig. 3, ,4).4). The diseased condition was found throughout the colon but was particularly prominent on the left side and in the transverse colon.

Regenerative and hyperplastic epithelium, which morphologically mostly resembled low-grade dysplasia with some sections of high grade dysplasia Dacomitinib and polyps diagnosed as adenocarcinomas, was observed (Fig. 3, ,4).4). The overall histological changes in group P were similar to those of group C, while mucosal injuries were less severe in groups BP, B, 2BP and 2B. In groups 2B and 2BP, no sections of high grade dysplasia and adenomatous polyps were found. None of the animals in groups 2B, 2BP, B and BP showed gross mucosal ulceration.